Oxidative Damage to DNA. The loss of an electron (oxidation) of duplex DNA results in the formation of a nucleobase radical cation (electron “hole”) that is subsequently consumed in chemical reactions that often lead to mutations. We have found that nucleobase damage need not occur at the site of the initial oxidation. Radical cations in DNA can migrate long distances (hundreds of Å) by a reversible hopping process before being trapped irreversibly by reaction with H2O and O2. A defining characteristic of this process is the preferential reaction at guanine. We showed that the reactions of nucleobase radical cations in DNA are determined by the specific sequence of bases that comprise the oligonucleotides. In particular, we observe that under certain circumstances oxidative reactions occurs at thymines despite the fact that it has a high oxidation potential. The consequences and mechanism of this reaction are under active investigation.

Conjoined DNA – Conducting Polymers. The creation of nanometer-sized molecular electronic devices requires the development of molecular nanowires that can effectively transport charge between functional components. The creation of such devices would be greatly facilitated if the nanowires were capable of self-directed connection enabling the efficient and scalable assembly of circuits. It has been widely recognized that the self-recognition and self-organizing properties of DNA may provide a means for the preparation of such self-directed nanowires and related structures. However, because of its inherent low conductivity, DNA itself is not useful for this purpose. Remarkable progress has been made in recent years on various schemes to modify DNA to take advantage of its unique properties for application to molecular electronics. We are pursuing the preparation of conducting nanowires from DNA oligomers that have covalently linked monomers that are subsequently converted chemically or electrochemically to conjoined DNA-conducting polymers of precisely defined length and composition.

The school is engaged in cutting edge research across the full breadth or modern chemistry and biochemistry. Our activities bridge traditional boundaries between scientific disciplines and involve partnerships across the campus, around the country and internationally. Research lies as the core of graduate education in the chemical and biochemical sciences, but there are also many opportunities for Georgia Tech undergraduates to work alongside our Ph.D. researchers and graduate students to develop their professional skills.

Members of our distinguished faculty are engaged in the education of ~350 Chemistry or Biochemistry undergraduate majors, ~240 Chemistry graduate students and more than 2,000 other undergraduates each year through their service teaching activities. The school’s extensive and internationally recognized research programs engage its graduate students, ~110 PhD researchers, many undergraduates and collaborators, throughout the campus and from around the world, in cutting edge science. These programs are supported by a highly talented administrative, technical and scientific staff.

The School of Chemistry and Biochemistry benefits greatly from the generosity of it alumni and friends. Our alumni help guide the future of the school thorugh our advisory board and they also help our current students through mentoring and similar activities. Funds donatedby our alumni and friends, for immediate use or to provide support in perpetuity through the creation of an endowment, enable many different activities.